How spas embed mental and emotional health into wellbeing experiences

With stress, digital overload and 'always on' lifestyles, we're all craving places and treatments that calm the mind as well as the body. Spas have always been places of holistic wellbeing, where physical treatments translate to mental calm, whether you're lounging by the pool, detoxing in the sauna, or enjoying a full body massage.

However, with the ongoing rise in awareness of mental and emotional wellbeing, and their correlation with physical health, more and more spas are focusing on incorporating experiences that proactively support the mind, rather than simply being a by-product of body treatments. Here we explore what that looks like, including a few favourites you might want to try.

What are spa treatments that support the mind?

Spas have always been places that are aware of the whole person, and that's reflected in everything from the interior design to the treatments themselves. However, with the advent of technology, as well as greater knowledge around mental wellbeing, they are becoming more proactive and sophisticated in the range of ways they tailor support to all levels of our health.

Lots of those ways remain rooted in the ages, through touch, acupuncture, aromatherapy, light therapy, energy healing, and more. However, there are also new and innovative ways in which you can explore different wellbeing opportunities to see what works best for you.

Mind–body connection treatments

There are lots of treatments that you will have seen on the spa menu on many occasions, and perhaps not considered how they support the mind as well as the body. These are the therapies that focus on calming the nervous system and balancing emotional energy, such as:

• Meditation massage: As it sounds, this combines slow, rhythmic massage with guided breathing or meditation to ground the mind and help you really settle into the massage on every level.
• Aromatherapy massage: Using the power of essential oils (usually following a smell test to understand what your body is craving), while the massage works on the body, the aromatherapy scents work on the nervous system, impacting hormonal responses, which in turn can change your mood.
• Reiki: This Japanese technique famously sees practitioners channel energy through gentle touch to promote emotional release and inner peace.

Sensory and relaxation therapies

Sensory and relaxation therapies are treatments that engage the senses to encourage mental stillness and stress relief. There are lots of innovative as well as ancient ways to do this, tailoring experiences to those who prefer self-administered experiences or those with other people. For example:

• Sound baths: Sound baths use gongs, singing bowls, or tuning forks to create frequencies that align with our natural vibrations, which can get out of tune and cause illness. The instruments change the vibrations and get the body back into its own vibrational state to promote wellness.
• Floatation therapy: Also known as Sensory Deprivation Tanks and Isopods, this is an immersive experience in warm, buoyant salt water, which allows the mind to enter a near-meditative state, reducing stress and mental chatter.
• Hydrotherapy and thermal suites: An intrinsic part of most spa experiences, we often forget that hydrotherapy and thermal suites are, in themselves, a form of therapy. Alternating between hot and cold temperatures can help us to rest and reset so we feel more emotionally, as well as physically, balanced.

Holistic and ritual-based treatments

Often inspired by ancient traditions, ritual-based treatments can combine physical, spiritual, and emotional healing.

• Ayurvedic Shirodhara: A beautiful treatment, where a stream of warm oil is poured over the forehead (the 'third eye') to calm the mind, this is a luxury experience, which also has the added benefit of leaving your hair silky smooth.
• Traditional Thai Massage: Incorporating acupressure, stretching, and mindful breathing, a traditional Thai Massage helps to release both physical and mental tension, creating a sense of wholeness of the mind, body and spirit.
• Hammam: An ancient Middle Eastern wellbeing practice, Hammams combine heat and cleansing rituals to cleanse the body. The ritualistic practice is not only physically clarifying, but creates a sense of self-care that helps you feel more connected with yourself as well.

Small ways to enhance your mindful spa experience

Therapists are always creating ways to add mindfulness to the spa experience, which is one of the reasons each spa destination is special - they all put their own unique twist on the journey. However, you can also look to enhance your own spa break with small touches to support mental wellness. For example:

• Find a guided meditation that you like and use it to unwind before or after your treatment.
• There are almost always herbal teas available during your spa day - make time to enjoy them as you go, both to stay hydrated and to have a moment of mindfulness.
• Don't forget to spend time in the quiet of the relaxation room. Lots of us think we need to spend our time exploring all the facilities, but it's just as important to simply stop for a while and enjoy the quiet.
• Take time after your treatment to simply stop and observe how you feel from the tip of your toes to the top of your head in a moment of self-reflection.